Dorset apple inspired 'wacky cake'

 'Wacky cake' is a dairy and egg free cake that uses bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in their place. It's one of the most popular pins that comes up when you search for dairy and egg free cakes and I had to give it a try. The original recipe is incredibly sweet, but aside from that, surprisingly enough makes a lovely cake, albeit slightly on the dense side.

This is an ideal cake for packed lunches or picnics as it's firmer texture means that it travels really well. 

I stuck to this recipe the first time I made the 'wacky cake' and as I said, it was tooth achingly sweet, and the timings meant it was slightly overbaked and therefore chewy. I thought I'd make some changes to see if I could suit it to our taste buds.

Dorset Apple inspired 'wacky cake'
Serves 16

1.5 cups + 2 tablespoons plain flour
1 tablespoon sweet mixed spice
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch salt (I reduced this down)
1 tsp white vinegar
1tsp vanilla extract
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water

Large handful chopped, dried apple

Grease an 8inch brownie pan
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sweet mixed spice, caster sugar, bicarbonate of soda, salt and chopped, dried apple and shake to level
With your measuring cups, make three separate dints in the dry ingredients (you don't want them to combine just yet)
In one pour the vinegar, in another the vanilla, and in the third the oil
Pour the water over all the ingredients and mix well until smooth
Scrape the batter into the brownie pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes
Allow to cool in the tin, then loosen and turn out onto a plate
Cut into 16 peices and dust with icing sugar
Serve with a strong cup of tea, feet up on the sofa while the baby naps (just me then?)

I'm going to keep making variations of this recipe and will continue to post those that are successful!